According to General J.F.C. Fuller, "the musket made the infantryman and the infantryman made the democrat." In short, modern war and modern society are inextricably linked. But how has war changed over the centuries? This highly informative and engaging work investigates the techniques, technology, and theory of warfare. From the military revolution of the seventeenth century to the present day battalion of high-tech weaponry and satellite technology, expert contributors explore major developments and themes, including air and sea warfare, combat experience, technology, and opposition to war. Specific topics include the extraordinary achievements of Napoleon's armies, the role of nationalism in battlegrounds, colonial wars, and the concept of "total war." One thought-provoking essay points out that today's armies face an range of low-intensity conflicts--from civil protests to domestic terrorism--that can not be won by any purely military approach. As a result, the military professionalism that evolved to foster modern war is beginning to erode. Highlighting a wide range of information with expert insights and historical analysis, The Oxford History of Modern War leaves no aspect of modern warfare unexplored. This volume will fascinate everyone from casual readers and history buffs, to scholars, political thinkers, and historians.
This is a wonderfully comprehensive book. For a student of modern war, this book is my encyclopedia for papers.
A good basic book on the current state of war
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
This book, while detailed, offers a good, basic approach to the modern state of war. The best part of an essay approach to this sunject is that rarely one person is the "guru" for all things. The multiple points of view weave together to provide full understanding to a very complex subject.
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